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'Barbarians!': Internet apoplectic as two climate vandals throw mashed potatoes at $110M Monet painting

The duo were a part of Letzte Generation (Last Generation), that asked what would be the point of a painting when there would be no food

POTSDAM, GERMANY: Social media users have been denouncing a pair of climate vandals who reportedly threw mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting on Sunday, October 23, in an attempt to draw attention to the perils of climate change.

Just nine days after two JustStopOil activists tarnished Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London, the aforementioned duo from Letzte Generation (Last Generation) splattered 'Grainstacks' with mashed potatoes at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg. However, the iconic painting, which Monet painted in 1890 and sold for $110.7M  at a 2019 auction, sustained no harm from the stunt thanks to the protective glass.

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In a video posted on the official account of the Last Generation, the two vandals were seen throwing mashed potatoes at the historic painting and then kneeling in front of it while gluing their hands to the wall. The protestors claimed the stunt was designed to garner attention to the perils of climate change.

“We are in a climate catastrophe and all you are afraid of is tomato soup or mashed potatoes on a painting. Do you know what I’m afraid of? I’m afraid because science tells us that we won’t be able to feed our families in 2050,” the protesters were seen saying in the video. “Does it take mashed potatoes on a painting to make you listen? This painting is not going to be worth anything if we have to fight over food. When will you finally start to listen? When will you finally start to listen and stop business as usual?,” the group said, according to NBC News.

Taking responsibility for the stunt, the Last Generation group reportedly said they made “this Monet the stage and the public the audience” to spread their message. “If it takes pelting a painting with mashed potato or tomato soup to remind society that the fossil course is killing us all, then we give you mashed potato on a painting,” it added.

Releasing a statement on Twitter, the Museum said that the two protestors had been taken into custody by the police and the painting was set to be back on display by Wednesday, October 26.

However, the vandalizing stunt has made social media users’ blood boil. Slamming the two protestors, one furious user wrote, "They can't make a real decision about what's changing the world, they are weak and only can ruin art in museums, because it's the most unprotected place." Another user said, “This is a new form of terrorism that should not be socially accepted and cannot be allowed to proceed further. There is a difference between destroying hundreds years of cultural heritage and sending a message."

“What does pouring gunk onto priceless artwork acomplish towards the environment!? Art can be a wonderful window that reflects the beauties of the world we live in, why tarnish it when they both can live in peace!?” A third user asserted. Another user said, “I'm going to have a word with the stupid leader of Letzte Generation... SERIOUSLY, YOU ECO-ACTIVISTS ARE A******S! Stop vandalizing art over your eco-crazy conspiracy theories!”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.